Improvement in hand-grenades



W. F. KETCEUM.

Shell.

Patented Aug. 20, 1861.

? NrTEo STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

WM. F. KETOHUM, OF BUFFALO, NEW

IMPROVEMENT m Hash-assumes.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 33,089, dated August 2055.5851.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. KETCH- UM, of the city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Hand-Grenade; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the corresponding letters of reference marked thereon.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents said grenade ready for projection. Fig. 2 represents a sectional view. Fig. 3 represents an end view. Fig. 4. represents a transverse section.

I make said grenade in a double conica oval form of cast-iron, and several different sizes and weights, from one to five pounds, and they maybe made muchlarger. They are cast hollow, likea shell;w-hiclr shell should have nearly a uniform thickness, so that the explosion will 'be more likely to break it into pieces of. nearly the same size, and into a greater number of pieces than otherwise.

- It is cast with an opening or orifice at each end, about one-half of an inch in diameter. I make a piece of hollow tubing of some soft metal-lead, for instance, 'orlead and zinc together-which'is about two inches long, one-sixth of an inch thick, made to fit into either end-of said shell, which has a narrow flange onthe outside, to prevent itsgoing entirely into the opening of the shell, and on the inside of the end that is inserted in the shell there is a narrow flangeextending inward, so that the hole in said hollow tube at the lower end projecting into said shell is about the size of a common musket'percussion-nipple, into which flange a common percussionnippleis screwed fast, leaving the base of said nipple flush withthe lower end of said tube, with its flange resting upon the flange inside of the tube. The soft-metal tube fits-closely the opening in the shell, and is thus made fast, with a nipple for a cap pro jecting up from the lower end of said tube, and abouttwo inches fronrthe outer end,

which is thus made entirely secure againstany accidental explosion. The cap is placed upon this nipple by means of. a hollow stick or any other simple instrument, and always-.

before the shell is charged with powder. Having thus laced the cap in place, the

charge is putv nto the other-end of the shell.

and the orifice closed with any wooden stbpper until it is desired to use the grenade, when the stopper or plug is removed, and another one inserted, about six or eight-inches long, which has four wings. of pasteboard or other material attached,'which will surely cause said shell to strikeupon the opposite end. I make what I call a plunger of iron, with a flange on the top, and a small steel spring on the side, to hold and preventthe plunger from falling out. This plunger,

with the sprin'g fits into the" hollow tube, and is long enough to reach and explode the cap on the inside the moment the, outer end of the plunger with its flange or head strikes .any resisting substance. never inserted or used except at the moment it is desired to project the grenade; and until This plunger is it is inserted and the grenadeprojected' the shell, although charged and capped, is perfectly safe and secure, and cannot be exploded evenby rough handling. can be inserted in an instant, and the grenadeprojeoted by hand, as may be desired. The guide may also be inserted at any convenient time prior to use, or at the instant of use, as it will require but a moment to arrange -it, and if both should be arranged for use and the grenade should not be used, they.

may both be removed, and the grenade will then be in its former safe andsecure condition. The grenade may be charged with common powder or any other explosive material upon which a common percussion-cap will take effect. The hollow tube projects inside the shell, and the end in whichthe cap is inserted is entirely surrounded with powder when charged. The grenade-shell is represented by letter A, the hollow tubing by letter D, the plun ger by letter E, and the guide by letter B.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the tubing and concealed cap therein with the adjustable plunger and the adjustable winged guide arranged for a hand-grenade, substantially as-and for the purpose described.

I W. F. KETGHUM.

In presence 'of-- Jon H. SEVABT;

WM. 13. Wampum The plunger 

